After winning in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to win a series against the Orioles tonight. Tampa Bay has won seven games in walk-off fashion, four via the home run. The seven walk-off wins are tied for the American League lead. Thanks to losses by the Mariners and Athletics, the Rays start the day 9.5 games out of the final Wildcard spot, and 7.5 behind Seattle.

Tyler Glasnow, one of the players who came to Tampa Bay in the Chris Archer trade, got the start for the Rays. Because he had been used as a reliever in Pittsburgh, Glasnow was on a pitch count of four innings or 60 pitches and will continue to be until he is fully stretched out.

Over his first two frames, Glasnow struck out five of six batters on 98 mph fastballs and low 80’s curveballs that were hard to time up due to the speed differential and the movement.

Baltimore got its first baserunner with two outs in the third, when Caleb Joseph singled and swiped second, but Glasnow struck out Jonathan Villar on four pitches, setting up a filthy 86 mph slider with a trio of fastballs.

Tim Beckham, ever the intrepid fastball hunter, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run when Glasnow’s velocity dropped a touch, but that was the only damage incurred against the tall right-hander.

All told, Glasnow struck out nine and walked none — not bad for a guy with a reputation of having control issues.

Following the game, Glasnow told reporters he feels comfortable with Tampa Bay and is pitching more athletically than trying to control his delivery.

I felt good physically and I wanted to go out and attack, Glasnow was quoted as saying.

The other big story from the game was Willy Adames’ walk-off homer, his first hit of that type since he was in Double-A Montgomery. It also came in front of his parents and sister, who had flown in from the Dominican Republic.

It’s just an amazing feeling, Adames said after the game. I have no words to explain the feeling I have right now.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.27 ERA) will open for the Rays, and will likely be followed by Jalen Beeks (1-0, 10.80 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Andrew Cashner (3-10, 5.05 ERA).

Stanek struck out all five batters he faced his last appearance against the White Sox.

Beeks allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over five innings on Thursday. He struck out four. Beeks didn’t exactly set a high bar in his debut against the Orioles on July 28th, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings. Yet the southpaw looked considerably more composed over an efficient 71 pitches (47 strikes, 66% strike rate, 13/18 first-pitch strikes) Thursday, limiting the damage after Hunter Wood had been stellar over the first two innings as the opener. The key to Beeks’ bounce back success was two-fold: he got ahead of batters, and remained calm when things appeared like they might spiral out of control. He figures to be utilized in similar fashion Wednesday, with his ability to pitch multiple innings makes him a natural for the second-man-in role on “bullpen days.”

Andrew Cashner allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one across just 1-2/3 innings in a loss on Thursday against the Rangers. Cashner only allowed one home run, yet five consecutive Rangers reached base in the second inning before he was chased from the game. Cashner had pitched well over a 52-inning stretch prior to Thursday’s game, performing to a 3.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — although he only managed 31 strikeouts. In that stretch, the right-hander limited the Rays to two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings of work back on the 27th. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3), CJ Cron (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Duffy (4-16, 3B, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), Michael Perez (1-2), Joey Wendle (2-5, 3B, RBI, BB)

Daniel Robertson rumbled around third to score a run before he was pulled from Friday night’s game with a left thumb injury. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back from a 3-2, extra inning loss against the Chicago White Sox — and stay competitive with the Mariners and Athletics — on Saturday, the 10-year celebration of their 2008 World Series run.

For the second consecutive day the Rays received bad news on the injury front, with UTL Daniel Robertson heading to the DL with a left thumb injury.

Robertson suffered a left thumb sprain after sliding headfirst on his leadoff double in the eighth inning, although he stayed in the game long enough to come around and score on Joey Wendle’s single. If he were to require surgery, ala Kevin Kiermaier in April, he likely would miss the remainder of the season. An MRI was taken on Robertson’s thumb this morning, and we are awaiting an updated diagnosis and DL timeline.

I’m supposed to see a hand specialist (Sunday), Dr. Doug Carlan, Robertson said. “And we’ll go from there as far as surgery, if, when. And then I’ll have more info. … I think I’ll be out for a while.

The Rays promoted INF/OF Brandon Lowe from Triple-A Durham to fill Robertson’s spot on the roster. Lowe has had a tremendous year thus far, slashing .291 BA/.400 OBP/.508 SLG/.908 OPS/.404 wOBA/153 wRC+, with 37 runs, 41 RBI, and eight home runs with Double-A Montgomery. He was promoted to Durham (when Jake Bauers made the leap to the bigs) where he performed to a .304 BA/.380 OBP/.613 SLG/.993 OPS/.432 wOBA/177 wRC+ line, with 36 runs, 35 RBI, and 14 homers in 45 games (205 plate appearances).

Lowe was ranked the ninth best second base prospect by MLB Pipeline, and the 30th best Rays prospect by Baseball America prior to the start of the 2018 season. A good comparison to Lowe would be Joe Panik, although the biggest difference between the two would be defensive abilities. To his credit, Lowe has good footwork and defensive skills at second base, but he did have his share of defensive woes in Double-A last season, which could be attributed to a pair of injuries; a torn ACL in 2013 and a broken left fibula in 2015.

Lowe was, curiously, chosen over Kean Wong, who also has had a strong year at Triple-A.

The New What Next

After last night’s ballgame, RHP Austin Pruitt was optioned back to Durham in order to make room for Blake Snell (12-5, 2.27 ERA), who will return to the mound tonight after a stint on the DL. He’ll be opposed by Carlos Rodón (3-3, 3.24 ERA).

Blake Snell threw a bullpen session Wednesday, which appeared to be his final obstacle before coming off the shelf. Across 20 starts (119 IP) this season, he’s performed to a 2.27 ERA/3.43 FIP and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9, and a 2.85 K/BB. Snell was placed on the 10-day DL with left shoulder fatigue on July 23. He will likely be held to 90 pitches.

Carlos Rodón fired 7-2/3 innings on Sunday, yielding two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out six and allowed a home run. Another strong start helped Rodón lower his season ERA from 4.55 to 3.24 in July. The 25 year-old southpaw held the Blue Jays in check for most of the afternoon. He also improved to a 2.33 K/BB after Sunday’s contest. Rodón has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts this season. He has relied primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a whiffy 86 mph slider with short glove-side cut, while also mixing in a 94 mph sinker and a firm 85 mph changeup with natural sink. The left-hander is 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA in two career starts against the Rays.

You can read about the series in our preview, and tonight’s starting lineup is below.

Noteworthiness

Team MVP Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, B.J. Upton headline a group of 20 players from the 2008 team at the Trop this weekend for a 10-year celebration. Alums will greet fans at Gate 1 Friday night (5:10 opening) and Saturday (4:10) and sign autographs at the 20th anniversary exhibit. Saturday is the main event, with pregame introductions, Iwamura throwing the first pitch to Bartlett, and all fans getting an Iwamura bobblehead with the radio call of the final out of that year’s ALCS.

The Rays look for a series sweep against the Angels Thursday afternoon. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays look for a sweep on Thursday afternoon. With an off-day for the Athletics, a Rays win in the series finale would give them an opportunity to enter their upcoming series, this weekend, against the ChiSox 7-1/2 games back in the Wildcard race.

Something to keep in mind, Tampa Bay has an easier schedule than both the Athletics and Mariners, with the majority of the remaining games at the Trop, where they Rays are much more successful. I’m not saving money for a playoff run at the moment, although they’re in the running until they’re not. Whatever the case, it could get interesting these last two months.

The recently acquired Tyler Glasnow, and unknown quantity to a large extent, got the start in last night’s ballgame and exceeded expectations, throwing three innings of one run ball on 48 pitches (34 strikes, 71% strike rate, 21% SwStr rate). Glasnow allowed two hits (including a solo home run), one walk, and struck out five.

Fastball, curveball, slider today, I had a good feel for things, Glasnow said following the Rays’ win. I felt relaxed out there. Overall, the feel in this clubhouse is really good. It’s relaxed, it’s friendly.

Rays manager Kevin Cash had nothing but superlatives for the right-hander, saying,

Probably not going to (throw 70 percent strikes) all of the time. But a great start. If he’s featuring that kind of stuff at a 70 percent clip in the zone, he’s going to have a special career.

On Glasnow’s repertoire … The right-hander threw 24 of 35 four-seam fastballs for strikes (five whiffs), averaging 97.6 mph (and topping out at 99.5 mph); 3 of 5 sliders for strikes (1 whiff); and 7 of 8 curveballs for strikes (1 whiff). He was able to move his fastball all over the zone at will, and played his off-speed stuff off of his heater.

(Location Chart Credit: Brooks Baseball)

The only real criticism for Glasnow, is that he left a fair number of hanging breaking pitches in hittable locations. On of those very hittable offerings was an 0-2 curveball that flattened out over the heart of the plate, and was consequently hit into the Rays tank — thanks a lot, Kole Calhoun. Otherwise, it was an excellent introduction to the flame throwing right-hander, who should have a longer leash his next time out.

The New What Next

Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will open for the Rays, and will be followed by Jaylen Beeks (0-0, 21.60 ERA), who will make his Tropicana Field debut. They’ll be opposed by Andrew Heaney (6-6, 3.64 ERA).

Wood has allowed just one run in 4-2/3 innings in the three previous outings, and this will be his first appearance against the Angels. Beeks allowed eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings Saturday in Baltimore. Only 45 of his 82 pitches were thrown for strikes (55% strike rate), which is a recipe for disaster for a pitcher like Beeks, who relies upon deception and getting ahead in the count.

Beeks actually wasn’t hit that hard, “sort of placed to death,” as Kevin Cash put it, although the damage was still self-inflicted due to the compromising position he put himself in by falling behind hitters, and throwing only eight first-pitch strikes.

Beeks is well aware of the circumstances leading to his rough outing:

I’ve got to get in the zone more. Just didn’t get ahead of guys and put myself in bad counts.

That made the bad results less concerning to Cash:

It seemed like a lot he was behind, just 1-0, 2-0 on a lot of guys and that’s not him. So that’s something we’re confident he can correct here real quick.

Ideally you’d just like to see him bounce back, throw some more strikes, control the count a little better. We’ll probably have some better outings from him.

Heaney gave up up three earned runs on seven hits over eight innings in his last start, striking out five and walking none. Heaney was efficient in his outing, throwing just 63 pitches through the first seven innings, and needing just 81 (70% strike rate) to make it through eight frames. Heaney, however, cost himself a shot at his seventh win of the season after allowing the game-tying run in the eighth inning before being pulled from the game. It was still another solid start for Heaney, who has quietly been a workhorse over the last two months. This was the seventh time this season he hurled seven innings or more, and has lowered his standard peripherals to a 3.64 ERA and a solid 1.13 WHIP. Heaney’s command has been impressive, with the southpaw collecting 111 punch outs against just 32 walks through 116-1/3 innings this season. Heaney allowed four runs on three hits (including a grand slam) over six innings in a loss to the Rays on May 19. Key Matchups: Daniel Robertson (1-3, HR, 4 RBI)

Rays 8/2/18 Starting Lineup

Noteworthiness

— Wondering where the candidates, running for a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission, stand on using public subsidies to build a stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays? Noah Pransky (WTSP, Shadow of the Stadium) wondered the same, and prepared a voting guide for you. Give the link (below) a look, and forward it to any Hillsborough County voter that may be able to use this guide in August and November.

Remember folks, this issue WILL NOT got to referendum ahead of the January 1, 2019 expiration of the memorandum of understanding between the City of St. Pete and the Rays, which allowed the team to search the region for a new stadium site.

— Jake Bauers enters the day having homered in three consecutive games.

After scoring a season high 19 runs against the Twins on Saturday, matching a franchise high, the Tampa Bay Rays look to end the ceremonial first half on a high note in Minneapolis. The win yesterday solidified the Rays’ plus .500 record at the All-Star Break, while a victory today could help determine if the team will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, or if they’ll stay put.

It was announced after Saturday’s contest that Wilson Ramos, who was pulled early — in the sixth inning — due to left hamstring tightness, will not be able to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Ramos said the injury occurred when he was running out a ground ball to third.
Ramos will travel to DC for the game, but it is uncertain whether he’ll hit the disabled list.

I was very excited to participate in that game, Ramos said. Now, I’m very sad. I worked really hard to make that team. But I will be there with my family and get some time there.

Hopefully it gets better soon. I still have half a season left … It’s better to miss one game than two months. Just have to be smart, do my rehab well and come back strong.

The Rays also made a roster move, acquiring the recently DFA’d southpaw Hoby Milner from the Phillies for cash considerations.

Milner, 27, broke camp on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, however, he performed to a 7.71 ERA in 10 appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Last season he had worked to a 2.01 ERA in 37 appearances.

In order to make room on the 25 and 40-man rosters, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Chih-Wei Hu back to Triple-A Durham, and designated RHP Ryan Weber for assignment.

When a player is DFA’d, he is immediately removed from the 25 and 40-man 40-man rosters. Within seven days of the transaction, the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

The New What Next

RHP Ryne Stanek (1-2, 1.92 ERA) will get the start in a bullpen day for the Rays, pitching opposite of RHP Fernando Romero (3-3, 4.38 ERA).

Ryne Stanek has sterling peripherals this season, posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 across his 27 appearances this season (32-2/3 innings). The right-hander pitched a scoreless frame with two punch outs in his lone appearance against Minnesota this season.

If history speaks to anything, southpaw Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 3.68 ERA) will likely see some mound time this afternoon.

Fernando Romero has a solid-but-unspectacular 4.38 ERA in 51-1/3 innings this season, although his 2.04 ERA in 39-2/3 innings for Triple-A Rochester is quite good. In his previous start for the Twins, Romero took the loss after he allowed four runs in six innings. This season he has relied primarily on a whiffy 96 mph sinker with some slight armside run and some natural sinking action, a swing-and-miss 96 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, and a 12-6 87 mph slider, while also mixing in a hard 91 mph changeup with some armside fade and natural sink.

Rays 7/15/18 Starting Lineup

Noteworthiness

— A li’l R&R. After a long stretch of writing pretty much daily since the start of Spring Training, we’ll be taking a brief respite this week. Treat yo-self as it were. Fret not, if anything pressing needs to be reported between now and Friday, we’ll be on it. Otherwise, see y’all when the Rays return to action on Friday against the Marlins.

The Tampa Bay Rays scored five first inning runs, and held leads of 5-0, 7-3 and 9-7. Yet after losing a two-run lead late in the ball game, the Rays scratched across a 10th inning run, allowing them to walk it off against the Detroit Tigers, 10-9. Tampa Bay starts the day two games over .500 — equaling the team’s high-water mark — having gone 12-1 in its last 13 home games.

Chris Archer got the start for Tampa Bay, his first since June 5, and instantly found himself in trouble in a long, 25-pitch first inning. Archer allowed the first two batters to reach via a leadoff walk and a single, although he worked around the jam by coaxing a ground ball out, sandwiched between a pair of swinging strikeouts.

Meanwhile, all nine Rays batters came to the plate in a five run first against Francisco Liriano. Matt Duffy started the rally with a one out single off the glove of sliding centerfielder, Victor Reyes. Daniel Robertson and Wilson Ramos followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases before CJ Cron — who is slashing .500 BA/.545 OBP/.900 SLG/1.445 OPS with a .400 ISO in the month of July — lashed an RBI single to left. Jake Bauers drove in the second run on a 3-6 fielder’s choice with Robertson crossing the plate. The inning probably should have ended on the next play, but a little bit of Tropicana Field’s serendipitous magic allowed Adeiny Hechavarria’s pop fly to right to get lost in the lights as it fell in front of Castellanos, allowing two runs to come across on what was scored a double. Carlos Gomez followed with a run-scoring hit to left, capping the five-run rally.

Archer worked around more traffic on the base paths in the second inning, but gave up three runs in the third when Victor Reyes and Ronny Rodriguez singled, and Nick Castellanos walked, loading the bases. Niko Goodrum doubled to right, driving in a pair before Archer retired the next three batters (although Jim Adduci was able to push across another run on a ground out) to end the frame.

Archer did receive a little help from INF/OF Daniel Robertson, who laid it all out to end the frame with a diving grab.

Rod Gardenhire had seen enough of Liriano, and pulled him from the game after Cron doubled to left and Hechavarria walked. With two on and one out, reliever Drew Ver Hagen appeared to get an inning-ending double play off the bat of Gomez, but the ball took an awkward hop off the second base bag for a run-scoring double, pushing the lead to four.

Archer, who was on a pitch count, again took the mound in the fourth, although he was lifted with one out and two on after throwing 78 pitches. He gave up six hits and two walks, while fanning three. Hunter Wood came on in relief and settled things down for a bit, tossing 2-2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

Seesaws are going to seesaw, and the lead got away in the seventh inning with right-hander Jamie Schultz on the mound.

Schultz allowed a free pass to Rodriguez, hit Castellanos, and allowed a run-scoring double to Niko Goodrum, all in the span of 16 pitches. With the lead in jeopardy, Adam Kolarek entered the fray and threw one pitch to Victor Martinez, who lined a ball to right-field which Gomez caught for the first out. Gomez threw a bullet to the home plate that would have gotten Castellanos for the second out … had Ramos held onto the ball. Diego Castillo entered the game and got pinch-hitter John Hicks to pop out to first, however, the right-hander walked former Ray Mikie Mahtook and hit James McCann to load the bases. Jose Iglesias proceeded to line a game tying, 1-0 double to left.

Tampa Bay reclaimed the lead back in the bottom of the seventh against Louis Coleman, because seesaws are going to seesaw. Cron led off the inning with a double to right, his third hit of the night, before Jake Bauers singled Johnny Field, who pinch-ran for Cron, to third. After Hechavarria lined out to second, Gomez laid down a perfectly placed bunt single toward third, allowing Field to score. Pinch-hitter Joey “he can hit” Wendle connected for a double to right, with Bauers crossing the plate to put the Rays up by two, but Gomez was thrown out at third, ending the rally.

And in true seesaw fashion, Detroit scored two runs in the eighth inning, again tying the game. Ryne Stanek started the frame by coaxing a popper to right from Rodriguez for the first out, but followed by allowing a double to Castellanos. Jose Alvarado entered the game and got Goodrum to ground out on the first pitch of the at-bat, but V-Mart hit an RBI single to draw Detroit within one.

Closer Sergio Romo was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out of the eighth, but quickly gave up a first pitch single to John Hicks, allowing Martinez to move into second. It then looked like Mahtook on a would be ground out softly wide of first, but Bauers fielded the play and responded by throwing the ball well over the head of Romo, who was covering the bag, and into the Rays dugout. The error allowed pinch-runner Jacoby Jones to score the game tying run. Romo finished the eighth and pitched the ninth as well, retiring the final four batters he faced.

After Matt Andriese threw a scoreless top of the tenth, Tampa Bay rallied against Blaine Hardy, who threw a zero up in the ninth.

Wendle led off the frame innocuously enough with a ground out to short, yet Kevin Kiermaier tripled to left-center with one, putting the winning run just 90 feet from home plate. Duffy, the next batter, quickly fell behind 0-2, although he inevitably worked a nine-pitch at-bat before he drew a walk. Robertson proved to be the final batter of the game, and after he squared around to bunt on the first pitch of the at-bat, he lined a ball through the middle, giving the Rays a walk off victory.

Robertson ended the night with three hits, as did Gomez and Cron, and the Rays collected 18 in total.

The New What Next

The Rays play game two of the series on Tuesday with Matt Boyd (4-7, 4.58 ERA) starting for Detroit, pitching opposite of the bullpen for Tampa Bay. Ryan Yarbrough (7-4, 3.75 ERA) is expected to throw the bulk of the innings since Andriese pitched Monday night.

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on four hits and one walk over three innings of a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday. He struck out three. Yarbrough ran into a bit of trouble in the second inning, loading the bases on an IBB before the opposing pitcher, Trevor Richards, laced a two-run single to center. Even though he limited the damage and breezed through the third inning with ease, Yarbrough didn’t come back out for the fourth despite tossing 6-1/3 innings and 90 pitches in his previous outing. He has allowed four runs total in his last 15-1/3 innings of work.

Matthew Boyd allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits over four innings in his last start against the Rangers. He struck out three. Boyd didn’t allow a run in the first inning, yet allowed multiple runs thereafter before receiving the early hook in the fourth. The key blows were a pair of two-run homers by Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman. Boyd has been hit or miss since limiting the Rays to one run on May 1, allowing five or more earned runs three times over his past four starts — pushing his ERA up from 3.23 before his rough stretch to 4.58. He is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (1-3), Johnny Field (1-2), Adeiny Hechavarria (1-3), Kevin Kiermaier (1-1), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB), Mallex Smith (1-3)